Friday Faves

Happy Friday! Anything exciting happening this weekend? I can’t wait to get back to the Pilot and Liv this morning. I missed them like crazy, but they had a blast enjoying some quality daddy-kiddo time. They visited the zoo, had a beach picnic, and went to an event at Liv’s school. I’m so excited to see them today! Also, my dad, stepmom and brothers are coming in from Tucson this morning. We can’t wait to show them around and play at the beach <3

This week’s Stitch Fix adventure was another incredible one, and it was inspiring to be surrounded by so many hardworking and inspiring ladies (and dudes!). I have one more recap on the way with fun pics, shenanigans from the Hizzy,

and our last dinner in SF, but in the meantime, here are some faves from the week and around the web.

This grain-free granola.

I made some for a giveaway winner to mail out before I left, and also saved some in the fridge for us. I’ve been trying to keep book recipe photos to a bare minimum around here, but I’m SO excited to share this one with all of you, as it’s become one of my staples. December, hurry up, mmm k? (I say that, but it will be here before we know it.)

Dry Bar!

I knew this was a *thing* but yesterday was my first time at a blowout salon. Usually madre takes care of my hair -and usually, I’m a hurry or have Liv with me so she’ll kindly cut my hair while it’s wet from the shower and I’ll just put it in a bun instead of the whole styling shebang- but I think this would be a fun treat for a special night out or event.

(The whole scalp massage and shampoo part is worth it alone. THE BEST.)

The atmosphere was unique and inviting, and I especially loved the fun touches, like the cocktail-inspired hairstyle names (I got the Cosmo-Tai), drinks and cookies. They also had Mean Girls up on the TV. It will never get old 😉 The Dry Bar products smell amaaaazzziing and I couldn’t help but notice their branded version of my beloved curling iron, which sadly bit the dust during our Italy trip. (I got a converter, but it still popped and was dead forever.) Even though I look a little worse for wear this morning at the airport, dat hair do. It’s still curled and feeling fresh 😉

Whenever I travel, it’s fun to check out at least one new-to-me studio or class. I’m a barre fanatic, but there are still quite a few methods I haven’t tried. None of us had experience with Dailey Method classes, so early yesterday, morning Julie, Nicole, Brittany, Sarah and I went to check it out. Since it was my only exposure to this type of class, I don’t have a solid opinion, but it was definitely a challenging workout. We did a plank variation that was KILLER, but it wasn’t as much barre work as I was expecting. We were only at the barre for one set of exercises, and the spent the rest of class standing, prone, in high “C” (a crunching movement seated with feet flat on the floor and the spine rounded) and a low “C,” on our backs, crunching with a rounded spine).

SUMMER SHAPE UP! Be sure to check back here Monday for all the details 🙂 Fit Tips subscribers, you’ll get your first week of workouts in your inbox today, too.

Hope you have a happy Friday!
xoxo

Gina

*Sadly, I wasn’t able to track down the recipes online for the cooking party and wasn’t given permission to publish them :/ When I recreate them at home, I’ll certainly post the recipes! There were also some comments asking where I got the skirt in this post. I picked it up at Banana last weekend; everything was 25% off, and it was glorious.

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31 Comments

A blow dry bar just opened up in my town too and I’d love to go sometime…. if I can justify spending the money!

I’m mega rooting for time to go fast too– I always love returning to your blog and reading the military posts. My boyfriend is currently overseas.. one month down 8-9 more to go and some days it is so difficult. But reading your advice, experiences, and knowing that he WILL come home and time will keep passing helps =) happy Friday!

I’ve been wanting to try out stitchfix for so long but I wear a uniform every day to work and usually when I get home it’s into workout gear or yoga pants 🙂 Maybe I’ll try it out for the summer though since I tend do be more social after work!

I have plans to hit up a Dry Bar when I go to Chicago with my girlfriends later this year. I’ve heard great things! And like you, I love to hit up new studios or try a new workout when I travel. Especially when you can talk a friend or two into joining!

Those macaroons look amazing, I REALLY want to go a Dry Bar, and I totally know what you mean about Europe eating hair styling mechanisms. I had a converter for my flat iron and a hotel in Athens killed it (we’re talking sparks and smoke). I love the concept of Dry Bar and though they sell the products at Sephora, I want to try the real thing! I’m awful with styling my hair. Have a great weekend!

I’ve never done the blow dry bar. I’ve always wanted to. My hair is ridiculously thick and difficult to deal with so I just let it grow long so I don’t have to actually do it. In a way I’m blessed, in a way I’m not. Lol… I was invited to go to the Y tomorrow for instructor overview and to sign up for training. Wish me luck! It’s been 15 years since I did this.

hey! that’s the dailey method i go to!! (i recognize the tank top in the corner!)
who was your teacher?-they’re all great!
i’m glad you enjoyed the workout-
i still get sore –
come back to sf soon!
(you really did an effective whirlwind tour of sf!!)

hi gina!
i’m a long time reader (although very frequent if ever commenter), and i actually own a TDM studio here in the Chicagoland area. I would be happy to try to set you up with one of our San Diego studios to try another class and get a full feel of what we do, or would be happy to talk to you more about the Method! Knowing some of your health & fitness background here with the blog, I think it would be a great fit for you!
🙂

She’s also about 4 inches taller- do you have any tips for that? I’m a huge believer of inner beauty, which seems to have missed its mark on you. Would you ever say something like that to someone in real life? Shame on you; not only for your lack of manners, but also for perpetuating the infuriating mentality that looks are everything.

Yikes…some people! Anyway, completely jealous of the Dry Bar experience. I LOVE having someome else do my hair, and joke with my husband that my big extravagance if we won the lotto woukd not be a new house or car, but a full time stylist to do my hair everyday 🙂

Way to stand up for yourself! People can be so rude and hurtful and have no manners! Love, love, loved the 5 minutes in a moms head. I enjoy the I tried scent as well. It made me laugh, because it is so true of my thought pattern and my hubs wonders why I have to write stuff down in order to remember it (not saying I haven’t gone to the store with a list and still have forgotten some things on that list!). PS. I want a trader joes.

Okay, I don’t know what those macarons are doing up there, but when I saw them I got super excited and was like, “I need to comment on them. I need to talk about macarons!” Also, my mouth started watering so much. So, I love macarons! And thanks for the picture! haha!

Hi, gorgeous! I'm so glad you're here. Welcome to The Fitnessista, a healthy lifestyle blog emphasizing quick workouts, quick recipes and adventures as a wife and mom. Though I am a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and weight loss specialist, the information posted here is not intended to substitute the advice of a medical professional. Please check out the about page for more info. Thank you for reading! ❤️